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Labor Minister Adel Fakeih is quoted in Arab news saying that …”86 per cent of the jobs done by expatriates are not suitable for Saudis…” The article goes on to say that Saudis “new” workforce which comprises 85 per cent of those seeking jobs are women. The 86 per cent of the jobs done by expatriates in the Kingdom are menial jobs not suitable for women or new graduates.

With all respect, I think I disagree with the Labor Minister. Everyone has to start somewhere when entering the work force. I do not see anything wrong with menial labor such as working as a gas station, in a grocery store or some other such shop. I also do not see anything wrong if a Saudi chose to work for an entity which made deliveries. Of course, due to the cultural restrictions, most of the above positions mentioned would not be suitable for a Saudi woman.

However, I don’t see anything wrong with a Saudi woman working in the capacity as a domestic worker, cook or nanny to a Saudi family during the day. I know there is controversy that she may be exposed to unknown men from her employer’s family. However, it seems to me that can certainly be worked around. An honest day’s pay is an honest day’s pay.

In fact, I don’t see why several Saudi women could not join forces and create a business which caters to the needs of busy executives who do not have families to take care of their errands. These women could do most of their work via email, text and through a web site. They could do the shopping and run errands for the man without a family. They do not need to see him. Payment can be made electronically. Similar businesses in other countries have been quite successful for women.

Alternatively the Saudi woman can open a business which provides home cooked meals delivered to the client’s home. This business does not need to be restricted to Saudi clients. There are probably a number of single expatriates who would welcome having a traditional home made meal delivered. Again, the business would allow the woman to maintain her integrity, meet cultural restrictions but also provide her with valid employment.

I don’t think opportunities for employment and earning an honest living are that hard to find when imagination is put to use.

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He does not fit to do more than washing trucks in lightly traveled desert intersection where one cannot tell whether the trucks have been washed or muddied. Like his bosses, he is clueless as to what’s happening in the country.

Thousands of Saudi men and women compete over handful of service jobs before they are formally announced. Ask the people of Jeddah about his work ethics, accomplishment and commitment to public service.

Saudi will perish by their own self-centerness and arrogance. The statement is truly an example of their entitlement mentality and how they deem themselves to be above another person. Hate to break it to them they are not above anything and no job is beneath anyone. Saudi’s (for the most part) are a bunch of pampered spoiled brats who need to have cold water thrown in their face to wake up to that reality before it is too late for them. I suggest expats form an expat union in the country and then start a strike. With something like 8 to 10 million of the 27 million population in Saudi, they would be able to cripple the economy and the country easily.

Those of us from other cultures may have done many jobs during college that would be perceived as demeaning in the Kingdom. My wife’s students were shocked when she admitted working at a Pizza Hut in college. Sent from my iPhone

Youth are the future and if they allow themselves to imagine there are so many opportunities and there are some business incubators willing to take care of these budding businesses. In Canada the government encourages small businesses and the Saudi government is well aware of the potential of small business to turn around the unemployment problem and has been working on it by providing information and making big businesses like Aramco and Sabic to name a few help small business made by Saudis.
The most important thing a young businessman has to remember is that work has to be in the spirit of service and that is the key to success and not the mentality of becoming rich.
The country is going through a transition and everyone is hoping for the best. I wish every Saudi woman and man all the success in any ideas they have.
To give examples of possible businesses the solar power industry really needs new ideas from solar powered cooking to providing electricity and the use of solar power in agriculture (drying of products). Also women are excellent in home based internet selling to women which will open up so many opportunities for internet or smart phone sales (as most people now have them and there is a lot of business potential in sales with them).

Like all people, Saudi men and women are capable of imagining, initiating and succeeding in anything they are allowed to embark upon. This is not the issue, the problem is the system’s impeding religious and political policies and taboos.

Saudis can imagine, but there is a penalty for that, as exemplified by Hamza Kashgari’s harmless dream, if anyone recalls.

Someone suggested that the Saudis are spoiled brat (and some are) without explaining the root causes of what makes them feel and act that way. Westerners’ assessments of the Saudi people are bigoted, based on utter ignorance of the underpinnings of the Saudi ruling men and their personalized institutions.

I was surprised to find when I got to Saudi that there was not a thriving “private party” scene amongst the women – cosmetics (Avon, Nutrimetics, Grace) – jewellery – candles – clothing/lingerie – scrapbooking – craft – kitchenware …….. there are plenty of companies in the west that work this way surely this is perfect for the Saudi woman – to hold parties for other women and sell these products? No men required – oh, except a driver to get you there.

That someone is me and yes I am a bigot toward those who create slavery, inprisonment and lazy actors of their own making. I also did not include all Saudi’s however, this is a country that had 30,000 people within a few days calling for the death of a 23 years who wrote a tweet on a fairytale evil prophet. So am I bigoted towards people who pray on the poor as Saudi does (YES!) and am I bigoted towards people who call for the death of a 23 year over a tweet (YES!). I am damn proud to be a bigot against slavery, torture, imprisonment due to poverty, religious delusionalism, rape, and murder. Hell, yes I am and damn proud to be a bigot in this respect. This by the why is all endorsed by the Saudi government and praised in Abrahamic hate books.

We all know the root causes but in this day and age where so many particular in Saudi have access to massive amounts of information it is abhorant to continue their system of racism, slavery tactics and many more based upon their flawed view of themselves. Their underpinning is based on fear and the westerners are quite aware of it but if you stand and do nothing then you are part of the problem not the solution. So spare me your tripe as we all know fear is a great motivator to assisted in empowering evil just look at the Abrahamic texts.

I am a bigot to murders. I am a bigot to those who abuse workers. I am a bigot to child rapers (aka. sold into marriage). I am a bigot to slavery. I am a bigot towards societies that treat their women as dogs and track them like animals. I am a bigot to blasphemy laws where the death penality is used. I am a bigot of apartheid. I am a bigot of racism. I am a bigot to people who believe they are somehow above others when it is pertains to working or gaining a living. I am a bigot to people who are lazy and prefer to live off the government dole as beggars all the while thinking other races or nationalities are meant to work for them.

I am proud to be a bigot. Being a bigot is not always a bad thing when it comes to bad intent, bad cultural practices, bad religion, and inhuman tactics.

2. (C) A PHENOMENON OF THE PAST FIVE OR SO YEARS HAS BEEN THE ROYAL SPONSORSHIP OF EXPATRIATE LABOR FOR PROFIT. EVERY FOREIGN WORKER IN THE COUNTRY HAS TO BE SPONSORED BY A SAUDI TO OBTAIN AN IQAMA–RESIDENCE PERMIT. PERMISSION TO SPONSOR FOREIGN WORKERS IS GRANTED BY THE MINISTRY OF LABOR. THE AVERAGE SAUDI CAN SPONSOR FIVE OR SO, ENOUGH TO HIRE MAIDS, NANNIES, AND DRIVERS. BUSINESSMEN CAN GENERALLY GET PERMISSION TO HIRE EXPATS TO FILL JOBS IN THEIR COMPANIES, ALTHOUGH THIS IS GETTING HARDER WITH THE SAG PUSH TO SAUDIIZE THE WORKFORCE. ROYALS CAN GET PERMISSION FROM THE MINISTRY TO SPONSOR SEEMINGLY UNLIMITED NUMBERS OF EXPATS, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NO WORK FOR THEM.
23. (C) IT IS COMMON FOR A PRINCE TO SPONSOR A HUNDRED OR MORE FOREIGNERS, KNOWN HERE AS “FREELANCERS,” WHO ARE ALLOWED TO FIND THEIR OWN JOBS, MOST OFTEN AS SERVANTS OR UNSKILLED LABORORS. IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING IN SAUDI ARABIA, THESE FOREIGNERS PAY THEIR ROYAL SPONSOR A NOMINAL FEE–$30 TO $150 PER MONTH, WHICH ADDS UP TO A SUBSTANTIAL TAKE FOR SOMEONE SPONSORING OVER A HUNDRED EXPATS–ON AVERAGE ABOUT $10,000 PER MONTH PER 100EXPATS UNDER SPONSORSHIP.
24. (C) WE BELIEVE THAT THIS PRACTICE WAS LARGELY BEHIND THE RAPID GROWTH IN THE EXPATRIATE POPULATION, FROM ABOUT 4.2 MILLION TO 6.5 MILLION, BETWEEN 1992 AND 1995. WITH THE ECONOMY GROWING AT1 PERCENT OR LESS DURING THOSE YEARS, JOB EXPANSION WAS NOT JUSTIFYING THE RAPID EXPATRIATE POPULATION GROWTH.

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